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The Grounds Guys Named Top Landscape Company in the U.S. Ranked within The Top 50 on Prestigious List
May 26, 2015 // Franchising.com // WACO, Texas – The Grounds Guys have been named one of the top landscape companies in North America by Lawn and Landscape Magazine.
The Grounds Guys ranked 42 on the 2015 Lawn and Landscape Top 100 list, published in May and sponsored by Toro.
“Our Top 100 list includes some of the best and brightest leaders in the landscape industry,” said Lawn and Landscape Editor and Associate Publisher, Chuck Bowen. “These companies have achieved a level of growth that very few others can claim.”
The Grounds Guys added 52 new franchise units in 2014. With 198 units operating in the United States to date. “We are honored to be considered one of the Top Landscape companies in the United States,” said Chris Elmore, President of The Grounds Guys. “Our growth during this time period speaks to the franchise opportunity that we offer.”
The Lawn & Landscape Top 100 is based on 2014 revenue from landscape profit centers, and is reported by each company listed. Companies on the Top 100 list earned total revenue in 2014 of $8,026,808,707. That’s $776,283,627 more than in 2013 – an increase of 11 percent. Companies on the list reported total employment (seasonal plus year-round employees) of 86,255 people. The list comprises 97 companies in 31 states and three firms in Canada.
“We’re proud to sponsor this annual ranking that recognizes landscape contractors who are at the top of their industry,” says David Alkire, vice president, residential and landscape contractor businesses at the Toro Company. “Innovative thinking is key to growth, and we support companies like these that are finding new ways to be successful every day.”
About The Dwyer Group®
The Dwyer Group, Inc., based in Waco, Texas, is the holding company of seven franchise businesses, each selling and supporting a different franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv®, Glass Doctor®, The Grounds Guys®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter® (Drain Doctor in the UK and Portugal), and Rainbow International®. Collectively, these independent franchise concepts offer customers worldwide a broad base of residential and commercial services. In addition, The Dwyer Group operates glass shops in New England under the Portland Glass brand name. For more information on The Dwyer Group or its franchise concepts, visit DwyerGroup.com.
SOURCE The Dwyer Group®
Public Relations Specialist
The Dwyer Group®
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Limited by its infrastructure and talent shortage, Vietnam is unable to fully cash in on the benefits offered by the Sino-US trade war.
By Joelyn Chan
Since US President Donald Trump took office in 2017, US trade relations with China has been a rollercoaster ride. Hopes of a trade deal wax and wane, exhausting investors and sending manufacturers scrambling to find ways around costly tariffs.
To bypass tariffs, Chinese firms supply components to Southeast Asia nations, who export to the US. Out of the ten ASEAN member states, Vietnam is expected to be the largest beneficiary of this trade diversion from Mainland China.
According to IHS Markit, a consultancy firm, in the period from January to September 2019, US imports from Vietnam rose by 34.8% year on year, rapidly accelerating from a modest 5.8% gain in all of 2018. During the same period, US imports from China contracted 13.4% year on year.
It is impossible to fill the shoes of the Chinese global manufacturing hub. Vietnam’s population is just 7% of China’s 1.4 billion, and it does not have the same access to skilled labour. There are, however, ample opportunities for growth.
For now, Vietnam is reaping rewards
In October 2019, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to exceed 6.8% this year, propped up by a robust export market and access to a steady stream of foreign investment. The nation’s fastest-growing export groups to the US are computers, telephone equipment and other machinery.
Vietnam is also capitalising on company plans to relocate low value-added manufacturing activities from China to the ASEAN region. Companies are happy to pay a hefty sum to relocate, offering a windfall to Vietnam’s industrial real estate market and driving further development. For example, Chinese acoustic components company GoerTek has ploughed US$260 million into operations to shift the production of Apple AirPods to Vietnam.
But without local talent, there will be a limit to Vietnam’s economic gains
According to recruitment firm ManpowerGroup, only 12% of Vietnam’s 57.5 million-strong workforce is highly skilled. The majority of the Vietnamese workforce still resides in rural areas and works in the agricultural sector.
Even before the trade war unfolded, Vietnam needed a larger supply of IT workers, engineers and managers. The country responded to the labour crunch by enhancing the scale and quality of its vocational education and training (VET) programs.
However, low participation from the private sector limited the effectiveness of the improved training offerings. Without insights and input from the corporate sector, the VET system has struggled to provide courses that effectively prepare workers for the workforce and equip students with the skillsets in shortest supply.
The legislative arm has also been painfully slow to adapt. It took around three years to amend the nation’s labour code to bring Vietnamese labour laws in line with international standards. With stronger labour protections and improved clarity on the responsibilities of companies, more Vietnamese may be willing to leave the agricultural sector.
Inadequate infrastructure has also dampened Vietnam’s aspirations
The export-focus of China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam meant greater freight volumes coming through the nation’s roads, sea and airports. According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, more than 530 million tons of cargo was shipped through Vietnamese ports in 2018, up 20% from 2017. This amount exceeded the maximum capacity of Vietnam’s 44 seaports, which sits at 470-500 million tons per annum.
Cost aside, poorly built roads and congested ports increase transportation time and reduce efficiency.
Without severe limitations on Vietnamese infrastructure and talent, the golden opportunity afforded by the US-China trade war could have fulfilled Vietnam’s ambition of being a modern industrialised country. While the economic fruits of the trade war have been sweet; the aftertaste of missed opportunity will leave a bitter taste on the Vietnamese palate.

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A prototype of a powerful coupe BMW M4 CSL was spotted on testsMay 18, 2021
On the Nürburgring race track, a prototype of the powerful BMW M4 coupe in an even faster CSL version is spotted. The body of the novelty is all covered with camouflage.
After the first tests on public roads, the hotter BMW M4 is sent to the Nürburgring for speed tests. The new video captures a sports coupe racing at high speed on a legendary track and showing great potential.
This is a different prototype from what we saw last month, although it is still covered in camouflage wrap. It’s hard to see some of the exterior details, but this video gives a very good idea of the overall styling of the M4 CSL (name unconfirmed). At some point in the first half of the video, the test car easily overtakes the yellow BMW M3.
According to preliminary information, BMW will focus its efforts on reducing the weight of new items, trying to get rid of all unnecessary.
The lightest current version of the model weighs 1,674 kg, which means a lot of potential to reduce these figures and increase vehicle speed without significantly increasing power.
Previously, there were rumors that the M4 CSL could be offered exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, but from what we can hear in this video, this prototype probably has an automatic transmission. Regardless of what BMW decides, we expect some of the high-performance coupe’s luxury features in the cabin to be removed in an effort to reduce weight. As for the 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine, we don’t expect a significant increase in power beyond the already impressive 503 horsepower in the existing M4 Competition.
Not so long ago, AutoTImesNews wrote that the BMW iX and i4 Gran Coupe will celebrate their debuts on June 1 in Los Angeles. BMW will unveil the new electric iX and i4 Gran Coupe models on June 1 during a special event in Los Angeles, ahead of its official launch early next year.
- China unveils $ 2,000 electric pickup truck
- Polestar has proposed a new scheme for the acquisition of hybrid “1”
- Jay Leno tries to set a speed record with the most powerful Tesla Model S Plaid
- Bentley Bacalar looks absolutely stunning on the streets of London
- Lamborghini sold most of its production capacity


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|News » Archives|
Monday, January 18, 2010
Tickets for the Second Annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence on April 17 featuring Tim Tebow will go on sale this Monday, Jan. 25th at 10 a.m. CST at www.LipscombSports.com exclusively to members of the National Bison Club. National Bison Club members who have joined at the Purple Level ($120) and above will have the right to purchase up to six tickets for the keynote address which will begin at 7:30 p.m. CST in Lipscomb's Allen Arena. Ticket prices will be $25, $50 or $100 per seat depending on location. If you are not a member of the National Bison Club and would like to join, please click here.
On Monday, Feb. 15 seats not purchased by National Bison Club members (if any) will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CST at www.lipscombsports.com.
Prior to the keynote address, an exclusive dinner featuring "Tim Tebow Unplugged" will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Allen Arena for event sponsors and members of the National Bison Club's Fessor Boyce Society ($1,800 donors and above). In fulfilling the benefits already offered to NBC members, donors at the $3,000 and above level (cumulative) for the 2009-2010 year will also be invited to an intimate meet-and-greet and photo reception with Tim Tebow at the event. If you would like to upgrade your membership in the National Bison Club or if you have not joined the National Bison Club and would like to take advantage of the dinner or the meet-and-greet/photo reception opportunities, please contact Andy Lane at email@example.com or 615-966-5853.
Corporate sponsorship packages start at $5,000 and include passes to the meet-and-greet and photo reception, table(s) at the "Tim Tebow Unplugged" dinner, multiple tickets to the keynote address, autographed gift packages and inclusion in all event publications, advertising, announcements and marketing leading up to the event. Click here to view the sponsorship packages.


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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he special announcement that was teased last week and last night has been revealed as a story DLC.
Last week, on its official Facebook, a picture was released showing a date for 31st December and the caption revealed an announcement regarding to series would be revealed. Yesterday, via Twitter, a second tease was released. A picture showing an invitation card to a Humanitarian of the Year ceremony, read: “You are cordially invited to the Humanitarian of the Year Awards at the Wayne Manor on New Year’s Eve”.
Now the announcement has just been released via their Twitter that an all new story DLC is to be released this coming year. No further details have been provided as of yet.
Batman: Arkham Origins, the latest in the series, launched on October 25th. It received a mixed response from critics who praised the story and detail but criticised the city’s lifelessness and its lack of ambition.
It was the first game not to be developed by Rocksteady Studios, the developers of the previous Arkham Asylum and Arkham City instalments which earned numerous nominations for Game of the Year awards. It was taken over by Warner Brothers Games Montreal and published by Warner Brothers Interactive.
We are looking for initial adopters / testers of our site's new functionality and tools.
If you are a writer or entertainment enthusiast and early access as a tester interests you, visit our join page to get in touch.


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13th- 15th March 2014, Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre
MUMBAI, India, March 14, 2014 /CNW/ - UBM India today launched the second edition of its Concrete Show India. The event slated from 13 - 15 March 2014 at the Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, will cover key sectors like Roads, Housing, Airports, Ports, Power, Rail, Dams & Bridges. Concrete Show India 2014 will provide a platform for industry suppliers to showcase the best and newest technologies in machinery, equipment, commercial concrete products, services and systems.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140314/674711 )
India's planning commission has projected an investment of US$ 1 trillion for the infrastructure sector during the 12th Five Year Plan, with 40 per cent of the funds coming from the private sector. It is one of the major sectors that propel overall development of the Indian economy. Unlike other developed countries, India's geographical position poses some challenges in huge infrastructural development like building of roads, flyovers, airports, damns & bridges, etc. In the modern infrastructural methods, precast technology is the most safer and durable option for building technology than some of the traditional methods. Pioneering use of precast technology can change the face of Indian economy by speeding up the course of action across varied proposed infrastructure projects. Expansions of Metro and Mono railway routes across various Tier I cities in India is one such example of implementation of the same.
Recognizing Concrete Show India 2014 as a trade opportunity for domestic & international companies to realize the huge untapped potential that the construction industry presents in India, the event will witness participation from countries like China, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, UK and USA. The event has participation from some leading companies that include Adeka, Apollo Infratech Pvt. Ltd. ACE Associates, Atlas Copco, Conmat, Godrej & Boyce, Toyota Forms India Pvt. Ltd, Ultratech Cement Ltd, and more amongst other Industry players. UBM India's focus for Concrete India 2014 is also to bring to the forefront for discussion, the challenges faced by the industry. The first day of the event will be marked by a conference, based on the theme of 'Infrastructure & Sustainability: A Fresh Approach'. Global Challenges for Sustainable Infrastructure in Metropolitan Cities, Infrastructure Transportation projects - Perspective from MMRDA: Present and Future, Nano-Technology with Ceramic Coating to aid sustainability are some of the topics which will be discussed along the sidelines of the event.
Joji George, Managing Director, UBM India says, "In the coming decade, concrete as an industry in India is set for an ambitious leap and UBM India, through Concrete Show India 2014, intends to contribute to this leap by bringing together, business and technology for this industry to move to the next level."
About UBM India
UBM India is India's leading live media and events company that engages people and enriches businesses. We at UBM India provide the industry with platforms that bring together buyers and sellers from around the world, through a portfolio of exhibitions, content led conferences & seminars, tech media, live events, data services and powerful media brands. UBM India hosts over 20 large scale exhibitions and 40 conferences across the country every year; thereby enabling trade across multiple industry verticals. A UBM Asia Company, UBM India has offices across Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. UBM Asia is owned by UBM plc and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. UBM Asia is the leading exhibition organizer in Asia and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland China, India and Malaysia. For further details, please visit http://www.ubmindia.in & http://www.concreteshowindia.com
SOURCE: UBM India Pvt. Ltd.
For further information: Ritesh Indulkar, +91-9664219292, [email protected]


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Earlier this month, I stopped by the Rofhiwa Book Cafe in East Durham to chat with Naledi Yaziyo, one of the establishment’s co-owners.
While waiting for her to arrive downstairs, I ordered a “Don Dada,” a cardamom-infused stout, that was among the coffees, teas, juices, and brews listed on a chalkboard behind the store’s drink and pastry counter.
Smooth, rich, and oh so tasty, the Don Dada is the best stout beer I’ve ever had.
“I was thinking of a cocktail, like an old-fashioned, but with beer,” said the Don Dada creator, Briana Blake, who owns the Spaceway Brewing Company in Rocky Mount.
Next month, the Don Dada will be among the craft beers on tap for the Bull City’s second annual Blacktoberfest, a community beer festival that’s also set to take place in St. Louis and Atlanta.
“The first one was in Rocky Mount,” Brian Lawson, one of the event’s organizers told the INDY this week.
The Durham event will happen on October 22 in Suite Four of the Durham Bottling Company, according to a press release Wednesday from the festival organizers.
The community beer festival was created by Black Brew Culture, whose online presence declares that it is “writing, drinking and brewing a new narrative in craft beer,” while celebrating “Black beer and food culture.”
Blacktoberfest will feature “traditional, festival-style” beer booths, along with “entertainment, education and exposure,” according to the release.
Here in Durham, the event will feature recipes from 12 Black-owned breweries and 10 “collaboration brews.” James Beard Award winner Ricky Moore will team up with Spaceway Brewing in Rocky Mount, which produces the Don Dada stout.
Blake told the INDY that she’s collaborating with Moore to create an IPA beer known as the “SpaceJoint.”
The beer’s name combines the names of the Rocky Mount brewery and Moore’s Salt Box Seafood Joint on Chapel Hill Boulevard.
The brew will be available on draft, and will rely on lager yeast and hops “that smells and tastes like a lot of grapefruit notes, pineapple and mango without using the fruit,” Blake says.
“We’re calling it the SpaceJoint to evoke a feeling of a juke joint in outer space,” Blake explains. “It’s great with a fish plate.”
Meanwhile, Durham artist Candy Carver will work with Carolina Brewing Company in Holly Springs, and the eclectic, Durham-based music collective ZOOCRU will collaborate with Bharami Brewing out of Asheville.
The Durham festival will also feature food and beer pairings by Damion “Dame” Moore of Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, Mike Monds of Marco’s 530 Asian and Italian pastas, and Zweli Williams’ Zweli’s Zimbabwean restaurant with the Full Steam Brewing Company in Durham and the Black-owned, Khonso Brewing Company out of Atlanta.
Durham festival-goers are also encouraged to attend what organizers are describing as a “close-out event,” on October 23 at the Fruit that will include a vendor market and panel discussion titled “Black Table, Black Tent: Creating Equity in the Craft Beer Industry.”
BBC was started by Mike Potter in 2015 with the goal of expanding the craft beer industry’s consumer base “by showcasing the genius and flavor Black brewers bring to it” throughout the country and globally, according to the release.
Described in the release as “an avid lover of the business and brewing of craft beer, Potter is planning to open in Durham this year, the Proximity Brewing Company.
Potter co-founded and presented “Fresh Fest Beer Fest, America’s first Black craft beer festival,” in 2018, according to the release.
The festival was significant.
Kate Bernot, writing for Sightline, which chronicles trends in the beer industry, noted in 2020, that the Fresh Fest Beer Fest was one of the most important beer festivals in the country, that attracted about 3,000 people in 2019, and “carried great influence in an American beer scene working on new paths for diversity and inclusion.”
Fresh Fest, Bernot added, reimagined the traditional beer festival “by showcasing Black-owned breweries and bringing together more artists, musicians, and other non-beer elements.”
Bernot also pointed to a 2019 survey by the Brewers Association that indicated about 90 percent of brewers and owners of breweries are white, with an accompanying “severe lack of diversity of brewery staff pouring at some events.”
Bernot also reported that Potter and a fellow co-founder of the Pittsburgh-based festival wound up in court over “assets and finances related to the festival.”
Potter was not immediately available for comment.
Prior to the legal snafu, Potter in 2019 was named one of Imbibe 75’s “People to Watch” and recognized in Time magazine’s special installment, “Changing the Face of Beer.”
This year, he added the educational “Black Table, Black Tent” under the BBC banner, according to the release.
Potter was joined in 2020 by veteran journalist Sheena Lester.
Described in the release as “a pioneer in urban music magazines,” Lester worked as editor-in-chief of Rap Pages and XXL, as was a music editor withVibe. Lester’s decades-long journalism career includes a tenure with the Los Angeles Sentinel and online editing for several websites, including TheGrio.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Observer reported in August that less than one percent of the nearly 8,500 craft breweries across the United States are Black-owned.
The Charlotte Observer story agreed with Sightlines: as a consequence of representing a fraction of the industry, Black brewmasters and business owners have faced equity challenges.
“Against the odds, Black-owned craft breweries are occupying a lane that the industry can’t ignore,” the Charlotte Observer reported. “The breweries that do exist are expanding rapidly and are producing some amazing brews and convivial atmospheres to boot.”
Brian Lawson, one of the curators of Durham’s Blacktoberfest, told the INDY this week that there are currently three Black-owned breweries in the state: Spaceway, Dirtbag Ales in Hope Mills, along with Brew and Feed in Charlotte.
“BBC’s 2022 gatherings continue the Blacktoberfest tradition of honoring the diaspora and raising our glasses to the creativity of Black craft beer brewers,” the organizers stated in the release.
The St. Louis event will take place on October 1, and the Atlanta festival is October 15, while the Bull City will round out the revelry on October 22.
All three Blacktoberfests are from 2 pm to 10 pm, with “early-bird entries” and “designated driver tickets” available in Atlanta and Durham.
Click here for tickets and more information about the 2022 Blacktoberfests.
Support independent local journalism. Join the INDY Press Club to help us keep fearless watchdog reporting and essential arts and culture coverage viable in the Triangle.


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Rush Bowls, a Boulder, Colorado-based fast-casual concept famous for healthy meals in a bowl, has reportedly planned to open 50 new locations by the end of this year.
The brand intends to attain this objective through continued innovation and unveiling at least 12 new locations in states like Texas, Florida, and Colorado. It also aims to open its first outlet in Alabama, Louisiana, and Minnesota this year.
With the growing demand for on-the-go and healthy meals, Rush Bowls has witnessed substantial Y-o-Y sales growth. This emphatic success can be accredited to the company’s efforts to innovate strategically and fulfill the needs of a fluctuating consumer base.
One of the innovations is the new digital application Rush Bowls Ordering, which is now available on the Google Play Store as well as the Apple App Store. The advanced app provides its users the simplicity of smooth online ordering directly via Rush Bowls whilst offering deep customization abilities to cater to any dietary requirements or preferences.
Implementing such expansion and launching Rush Bowls’ new online ordering application have further prompted the brand down the success path developing several dedicated customers in different markets across the United States.
Andrew Pudalov, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder stated that the company must augment its effective business model and continue innovation as it grows to assure sustainable progress. This comprises the company’s tech, marketing practices, and its general presentation globally.
Since first planning to franchise in 2016, Rush Bowls has developed into a prolific brand owing to its rapid growth in a short time. Rush Bowls seeks to continue serving its well-known smoothies and bowls that provide the perfect mix of all-natural veggies and fruits.
For the record, Rush Bowls has nearly 35 restaurants running across 19 states with more than 100 additional locations in various developmental stages.


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Günter Nooke, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Africa Commissioner, recently harshly criticized a number of free trade agreements between the European Union and African countries saying that these deals destroy Africa’s economic development by counteracting Europe’s development policy. “Economic negotiations should not destroy what has been built up on the other side in the Development Ministry”, he commented, and reminded that European countries contribute a lot of money towards various development programs in Africa.
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and several African countries encourages them to open up a substantial part of their economies – as much as 83 percent of their markets – to EU imports. At the same time, the partnership agreement envisages a gradual elimination of tariffs and fees for EU imports. As a reward, African states will be granted a customs-free access to the European market but many African economies still hesitate to join the EPA because of concerns that they will lose their competitive advantage against EU firms. One of the most important economies that resisted the deal was Kenya. The country refused to sign the agreement, which triggered “retaliation” from Europe. The EU imposed import tariffs on numerous Kenyan products, which reportedly led to many layoffs in a number of African firms. Given this pressure, Nairobi signed the agreement two weeks ago.
According to Andrew Mold of the United Nations, the EPA is a real threat to the African economy in the long run. “The African countries cannot compete with an economy like Germany’s. As a result, free trade and EU imports endanger existing industries, and future industries do not even materialise because they are exposed to competition from the EU,” he added. On the other hand, Germany’s centre-right politicians argue that the deal with African countries provides them with an opportunity to catch up with Europe. The EU Commission also defended the EU-Africa deal saying that 20 percent of domestic African products will remain protected in the long run.


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POCO F3 GT is the name we are frequently hearing for quite a few days in the past. It is the name we frequently hear from the tipsters claiming it to be the one with Snapdragon 1200 chipset. POCO India has finally revealed today about the smartphone. The announcement reveals the name of the smartphone which is POCO F3 GT and an upgraded version of the POCO F3.
Apart from this, the company has also shared a teaser video about the smartphone where it has revealed some of its specifications. It is now confirmed that the POCO F3 GT will be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset. The launch is teased to be in Q3 2021. So we can expect an event in July or later or it’s also possible that there will be an event in late June with the online sales later.
Other expected feature of the upcoming POO F3 GT are 120HZ AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass. Rear camera module is expected to have a 64Mp primary sensor and a punch hole camera at the front. The storage modules are expected to start from 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. We are expecting an LPDDR4x RAM type and UFS 3.1 storage. Apart from MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset the smartphone will have a big battery and high charging capacity.
The price of this smartphone will definitely be higher than the previously launched POCO F3 in India as it is going to feature MediaTek’s best mobile chipset. This smartphone will head on compete with Realme GT that will launch in India on May 31. Though the POCO F3 GT is going to come a bit late still we are expecting something new from this smartphone.


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The Ministry of Commerce and development partner – CAVAC (Cambodia Agriculture Value Chain Programme) – have reviewed a study on rice exportation which aims to enhance the competitiveness of Cambodia’s rice export.
Discussions were held under the chairmanship of Sok Sopheak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce with representatives from CAVAC and Cambodia Rice Federation.
The Cambodian rice production and export cost study was proposed by the Ministry of Commerce with technical and financial support from CAVAC. Its aim was to help identifying and reduce challenges as well as explore how to strengthen the competitiveness of the Cambodian rice sector.
The study analysed the value chain of the sector, from cultivation, drying and milling to exporting, including shipping and document processing, to target countries (import) in the EU and other countries.
The report will be released to the private sector and other relevant ministries and institutions to map out Cambodia’s rice development plans and policies so as to reach out to more foreign markets.


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Few weeks after Reliance Jio launched its prepaid data plan of Rs. 401 bundled with the free Disney+Hotstar VIP plan for new customers, the telco has come up with yet another plan for its existing customers who have already subscribed to Jio’s annual plans.
The telco has launched a new plan of Rs. 222 Plan for its select bunch of subscribers, that too comes with a free annual VIP subscription of Disney+ Hotstar and other benefits.
The Rs. 222 plan comes with additional benefits of 15GB data with the validity of existing plan in hand and one year subscription to Disney+ Hotstar.
To avail the service, users need to download the Disney+Hotstar app after completing the specific recharge login using OTP from the eligible Jio number from MyJio App or Jio.com. Further details are available on the website and the app.
Jio also offers other plans with a similar service like the Rs. 401 monthly or Rs. 2599 long-term plan. Data vouchers like the Rs. 1208, Rs. 1206, Rs. 1004, and Rs. 612 also come bundled with the OTT platform respectively.
Another telco, Airtel also offers a similar plan of Rs. 401 and above which gives a free access to the Disney+Hotstar VIP subscription. If users already have a subscription to Disney+Hotstar, they can opt for add-on plans being offered by the telco, starting at Rs. 612 till Rs. 1208. The add-on plans offer both voice calling and data benefits.
Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription enables users to watch and enjoy exclusive shows from Star India and partner channels at 6 pm daily, ahead of their TV premiere, Hotstar Original programmes, live sports, live news, and Hindi-dubbed catalogue from Disney, HBO, Showtime, and other streaming partners. The plan separately comes at Rs. 399 on a yearly basis.


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Budget cuts and taxes
Sir, – Arthur Beesley writes that 1,000 respondents were asked in an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI survey what were the top three spending areas that they would cut if they were in government and were preparing Budget 2014 (Front page, October 2nd).
Apparently, 18 per cent of those surveyed said that they would cut university staff pay; 17 per cent would cut public sector pensions and 9 per cent medical payments to GPs and pharmacists.
Would it not be more clear-cut and meaningful to say that 82, 83 and 91 per cent of those surveyed were not in favour of cutting any of those spending areas? – Yours, etc,
Tinahely, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – With polls clearly indicating that the majority of the population wants a smaller budget adjustment, should the Dáil banish the Fine Gael austerity junkies to the opposition benches?
There is still time to put a new taoiseach, government and budget in place before year-end. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I was surprised and shocked to read Minister for Finance Michael Noonan was contemplating the return of the 13.5 per cent VAT rate for the hospitality and restaurant trade (Home News, September 27th). This would be sheer madness in the current economic climate. For the first time in five years the industry was showing signs of growth, following years of massive decline (24 per cent in visitor numbers, 30 per cent in tourism revenue since 2008). Tourism has the capacity to play an important role in the regeneration of the domestic economy. Since the reduction of the VAT in 2011 it has created over 15,000 jobs in accommodation and food services. There is no quicker way to increase employment than through the hospitality sector, thanks to its labour intensive nature and regional economic impact. Little or no capital investment is required as the product already exists.
Like most other businesses, firms in the tourism sector have aggressively tacked their cost bases in order to remain viable. Hotels and restaurants have achieved significant reductions and passed these on to customers, but some problem areas remain. Many State-controlled or -influenced costs in particular have not come down; local authority rates and energy costs (up 50 per cent since 2005) remain a substantial burden, food costs have also increased substantially over the past year, up 6 per cent in 2013 alone. An increase in VAT will have a dramatic effect on our competitiveness with most of our major European competitors having lower VAT rates than Ireland.
My fear is that any further increase in costs or VAT will drive the hospitality industry towards a low-cost model. The only element of cost that we seem to be able to control is labour, you can see more and more establishments purchasing ready-made foods to reduce this labour cost. Currently at Kelly’s Resort Hotel we employ 197. Since there is no appetite in the market to increase room rates our only option will be to reduce our labour force by 12 to 14 persons if the VAT rate is to increase to 13.5 per cent. This is shameful in a country screaming 14 per cent unemployment.


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In Mamamia’s Parenting Hacks series, real women share their tips and tricks on everything from meal prep to organisation to nailing the morning routine.
This week, we asked our readers to share the hacks they've used to stop mindlessly scrolling.
Phone addiction is the obsessive use of a smartphone.
More and more, researchers are finding our relationship with our devices is becoming considerably more reliant as time goes on.
Even Baba Vanga, the famous Nostradamus of the Balkans who was eerily able to predict several events, estimated that people would spend more time on their screens than ever before in 2022.
Watch: Got teenagers who stay up all night on their phone? Post continues after video.
Considering the amount of people who own a smartphone, it's not a hard prophecy to believe.
In Australia, a 2021 study found that 99.2 per cent of users have at least some fear of being without their mobile devices.
Those same researchers from BehaviourWorks Australia also established that almost half of their participants spent more than three hours a day on their phone.
Those are worrying numbers, right?
But thankfully, there are some hacks and tips that we can all implement in our daily lives to reduce our screen time.
We reached out to our readers to find out what hacks they've used to keep off their devices.
Here's what they had to say.
Turn your phone to greyscale mode.
One reader shared that they turned their phone's display to greyscale mode, turning their screen black and white.


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Learn How War and Supply Chain Problems are boosting Inflation in Europe
Across Europe, people are struggling to pay the bills as inflation soars to levels not seen in decades. Prices had already been rising before the war in Ukraine as consumers began spending again after the lifting of pandemic restrictions. But Russia`s invasion of the country and the resulting pressure on gas supplies has pushed an uncomfortable situation into a full-blown crisis.
On this DW Business Special, we speak to reporter Emily Gordine who has been covering the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, as well as to Michael Heise, Chief Economist at HQ Trust. Learn How the continent’s most vulnerable people have been coping and what needs to be done now to prevent extreme hardship this winter.DW News


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Markets continue to be extremely pessimistic about the future, and this chart is one reason why. This is a measure of commodity shipping costs. As recently as last June, strong global growth collided with a dearth of shipping capacity to produce sky-high prices. Today, shippers are idling ships and slowing the speed at which they travel. Global commerce has slowed sharply as uncertainty grips nearly everyone. If global commerce actually ground to a halt this would replicate the conditions that led to the depression of the 1930s.
Consumer confidence numbers released today plunged to their lowest level ever, and the data go back to 1967. Everyone is scared, everyone is pulling back.
The Smoot-Hawley tariffs sparked a global tariff war which shut down commerce back then, but nothing like that has happened today. It's mainly fear generated by the panic in financial markets. Markets can right themselves given time, and confidence can be restored. We don't have to undo any nasty legislation. It shouldn't be too hard to get things going again.


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China’s music streaming sales are expected to grow at a significant pace
Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) has an expanding total addressable market. The music streaming market in China is estimated to grow from $1.14 billion in 2018 to $6.27 billion in 2023, according to iResearch. Tencent accounts for the majority of this share.
Shift to subscription sales
China’s government cracked down on pirated music outlets back in 2015. This crackdown drove the demand for subscription music streaming. Prior to 2015, ad-supported platforms accounted for 50.0% of sales. This figure dropped to 18.0% of sales in 2018, as subscriptions accounted for 59.0% of total revenue.
Increase in network coverage will drive user growth
The expansion of China’s mobile networks and the reduced cost of mobile data should boost TME’s subscriber base. TME has stated that its users are now consuming music via streaming services, and there’s been a significant decline in music downloads over the years.
Social media growth
TME believes its social media business will continue to improve user engagement. Its number of paying users rose 13.0% to 10.8 million in the first quarter, while its average revenue per user rose 28.1%. WeSing is a karaoke application that allows subscribers to purchase concert passes and gifts.
In the WeSing app, TME launched the Grab the Mic feature, which allows users to invite a group of friends or join an existing song room (which will be matched using proprietary algorithms). Users listen to part of a song and are scored on the time it takes them to identify the song, the accuracy of their lyrics, and their vocal ability.
Such features should help generate user interest in the app and drive subscriptions higher in the long term.


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This is the Algolia pitch deck to raise a $150m series-d round in 2021.
Algolia is the search-as-a-service platform that enables companies of all sizes to deliver fast and relevant digital experiences that drive real results. With Algolia, consumers are able to easily find and discover what they want across the web, mobile, and voice. Algolia allows developers and business teams to build and optimize delightful Search & Discovery experiences that increase online engagement, conversion rates, and revenue.
Search software and API startup Algolia has been through a year of change: CEO Bernadette Nixon replaced previous chief executive and Algolia cofounder Nicolas Dessaigne during the pandemic last May, and quickly brought on seven new executives to help the company scale.
Today, the nine-year-old San Francisco-based startup announced a $150 million Series D round at a $2.25 billion valuation — quadruple what it was at the time of its Series C funding in October 2019, the company says. The round brings Algolia’s total funding to $315 million and will help it compete against its big, public-company rivals Amazon Web Services and Elastic.
Nixon told Insider her new executive team has been the “secret sauce” for company successes such as the launch of a new recommendation product and the acquisition of MorphL, an artificial intelligence startup it bought for an undisclosed amount in January.
Algolia also moved from a subscription-based pricing model to a usage-based one this past year, which Nixon says customers welcomed: “If you want to start small, you can absolutely start small,” she said.
The startup’s change is part of a larger shift within the software industry toward usage-based models, where companies charge customers based on their exact usage of products or services, instead of via a recurring subscription.
Also this past year, Algolia rolled out a new enterprise sales strategy that Nixon says helped it land bigger customers.
“The makeup of the business has shifted quite significantly,” she told Insider. “We still cater to the small business, but we also flex now very nicely up into the enterprise.”
Selling to larger companies also meant bringing on a new chief customer officer and head of partnerships, removing the paywall for customer education materials, and rapidly hiring a new sales team, Nixon said.
AWS’s search product is based on Elasticsearch, and the two firms have fought over Amazon’s profiting from Elastic’s open source software. Algolia, however, is immune from those legal battles because its own software is proprietary, Nixon says.
“Elastic has been in battle with lawsuits with AWS because they took the open source version, put it on AWS. We have our own IP,” Nixon said. “So that is a significant competitive moat.”
With this latest infusion of cash, Nixon says the 490-employee startup will invest in product and customer support, and expand into new regions like Germany, Japan, Singapore, and Australia.
Meanwhile, the growth of cloud-based services and software during the pandemic has been a boon for the startup, too — and Nixon is optimistic that will endure.
“Those people that weren’t focused on digital transformation and knew they should be, they actually started and took the plunge,” Nixon said. “In many ways, the ten years of progress that we made in the space of three or five months has been very good for business, and will only continue.”
Algolia’s latest round was led by Greenwich, Connecticut-based Lone Pine Capital, and included participation from Fidelity Management & Research Company, STEADFAST Capital Ventures, Glynn Capital, and Twilio. Existing investors Accel, Salesforce Ventures, DAG, Owl Rock and World Innovation Lab also provided funding.
|Transaction Name||Number of Investors||Money Raised||Lead Investors|
|Jul 28, 2021||Series D – Algolia||10||$150M||
Lone Pine Capital
|Oct 15, 2019||Series C – Algolia||10||$110M||Accel|
|September 1, 2017||Secondary Market – Algolia||1||—||
|Jun 7, 2017||Series B – Algolia||10||$53M||Accel|
|May 20, 2015||Series A – Algolia||9||$18.3M||Accel|
|Jun 19, 2014||Seed Round – Algolia||8||$1.3M||
|Apr 24, 2014||Seed Round – Algolia||1||—||—|
|Mar 25, 2014||Pre Seed Round – Algolia||2||$120K||—|
|Oct 1, 2013||Seed Round – Algolia||7||$1.5M||—|
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Europeans go ga-ga over virtual servers
Watch out for that Virtualisation Whiplash
Server virtualisation deployments are on the rise in Western Europe, and this comes as no surprise given the enormous pressure that IT managers are under to cut costs and drive up the utilization on the gear that they have in their data centres. The continuing maturity of hypervisors and hardware features to better use them, particularly on x64 machines, is helping boost deployments, too.
According to the box counters at IDC, the number of servers that shipped from vendors with server virtualisation hypervisors grew by 26.5 per cent in 2008 in Western Europe, hitting 358,000 units.
"The accelerated adoption on the x86 side of the server market is making virtualisation a crucial factor, changing the approach of suppliers and the deployment habits of customers throughout Europe," explained Giorgio Nebuloni, research analyst with IDC's European systems and infrastructure solutions unit, in a statement to accompany the release of a report detailing virtual and physical server deployments in Western Europe in 2007 and 2008, and forecasts going out to 2013.
Nebuloni said that in 2008 some 18.3 per cent of the 1.95 million servers that shipped in Western Europe were virtualised. IDC reckons that about 14.6 per cent of servers sold in the region in 2007 were virtualised, and projects that in 2010, the number of servers with virtualisation hypervisors will hit a 21 per cent penetration level across all architectures. "More importantly, last year, and for the first time ever, the number of virtual machine (VM) shipments exceeded the number of physical servers shipped, topping 2 million units," Nebuloni added.
Unix servers from IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, and Fujitsu have had various kinds of logical and virtual partitioning technologies from the late 1990s. The adoption rate of these technologies followed a similar adoption curve and, more significantly, put pressure on revenues and profits above and beyond the normal pressures driven by the constant march of Moore's Law.
Server consolidation enabled by virtualisation and sophisticated workload management have also done their compression magic on mainframe sales over the past two decades and on AS/400 midrange server sales in the past decade, too. One of the reasons why these Unix and proprietary platforms persist is because they can be run at fairly high utilization rates, at least compared to x86 and x64 servers, which have only within the past few years been equipped with virtualisation hypervisors that are robust and sophisticated enough to be deployed supporting real workloads and, equally importantly, are affordable enough to be widely used.
The lack of decent hypervisors for x86 and x64 servers has, ironically, helped prop up server shipments and revenues while decreasing sales for mainframes, AS/400s, and Unix boxes, making Windows and Linux look that much stronger when ranked by aggregate revenues. But the Virtualisation Whiplash will work its magic on Windows and Linux in due time.
The ramp of virtualisation is slow - the penetration of hypervisors on IBM's Power Systems boxes are somewhere between 50 and 95 per cent right now, depending on the size of the box - but will eventually become universal. The possible exceptions are high performance supercomputing clusters and tower servers used by SMBs to run their businesses. And I wouldn't rule these out of the Virtualisation Whiplash in the long run, either.
To help us all from going nuts when we talk about physical and virtual machines, IDC is introducing a new concept, called the logical machine, which is the set comprised of physical machines that do not have virtualization on them and the number of virtual machines added up on the physical machines that do have hypervisors.
For this year, IDC is projecting that the number of virtual servers shipped in Western Europe will be 10 per cent higher than for physical servers, and that by 2013, the number will be 50 per cent. (Making the ratio of virtual to physical servers three to two.) IDC says that the number of logical machines is expected to grow at a rate of 15.7 per cent through 2013.
What IDC did not say, of course, is what the average selling price of a physical, virtual, and logical machine would be over that 2007 through 2013 span. Even if physical server prices hold up over that time, or better still, if they grow as customers deploy richer server configurations to support hypervisors, even with the cost of virtualisation tools added to the box, it is quite possible that the price of the average logical server contracts sharply even as the number of physical servers sharply contracts. This happened to mainframes, it happened to AS/400s, and it happened to Unix boxes, and in all cases, the contraction whacked revenues and profits at the companies that made these boxes.
It is hard to imagine that x64 machines are somehow going to be magically immune to this Virtualisation Whiplash. For now, as companies convert from x86 and x64 boxes that don't have the features necessary to support virtualisation, business looks pretty good. But at some point, customers start interleaving workloads and running boxes efficiently, and they will simply not need as many boxes as they might have in the past and don't have to buy enough capacity to cover all the peaks of all their workloads.
It is hard to say when that day comes, but you can be fairly certain that such a day is indeed coming. ®


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Bitcoin exchange claims it is 'regulated,’ but not in California
Coinbase promised investors a modicum of security in the nascent bitcoin market this week when the San Francisco startup opened what it calls the first regulated U.S. trading post for the digital currency.
But for consumers in California, the service isn’t regulated at all.
Coinbase Exchange, which allows users to trade bitcoins, says it’s insured against accidental loss, hacking and internal theft. The company advertises this “regulated exchange” in 24 states and territories, including California.
“The exchange is regulated because of its ability to obtain money transmitter licenses in 24 of the 50 states. So it’s regulated at the state level,” Coinbase said Monday.
MBA BY THE BAY: See how an MBA could change your life with SFGATE's interactive directory of Bay Area programs.
But the California Department of Business Oversight says it has not issued any licenses for digital currency exchanges, meaning the state has not investigated the company to determine whether it is safe for consumers.
“It’s not that if they operate in California, they’re breaking the law, but it’s important that consumers be aware that the Coinbase exchange is not regulated or licensed in California,” said Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for the Department of Business Oversight. The agency released a statement correcting media reports that said Coinbase’s exchange was licensed to operate in California.
On Tuesday, Coinbase backtracked, saying it had licenses in 14 states, didn’t need licenses in eight states, and that two — California and New York — are in a “grey zone” while they hammer out bitcoin regulations.
The regulation of digital currency like bitcoin is still a matter of debate in California.
Like Western Union and PayPal, Coinbase’s exchange would probably be regulated as a money transmitter in California, Dresslar said, adding, “We have not made a decision about whether to regulate virtual currency under our money transmitter statute.”
Protections like minimum bond amounts and adequate eligible securities “help ensure that their customers don’t get left holding the bag if something happens,” Dresslar said.
Bitcoin, a digital currency with no central bank, has been likened to digital cash because its users can remain anonymous. Venture capitalists see bitcoin as the future for money transfers: Since there’s no middleman, they say some transactions, like micro-payments and cross-border transactions, are less expensive with virtual currency.
But its reputation is colored by its use in illegal activities: The FBI has shuttered online marketplaces where the digital currency was used to buy and sell illicit drugs.
And bitcoin exchanges have been fraught with problems: Last year, Mt. Gox in Tokyo shut down after it was revealed that the exchange had lost customers’ digital currency worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Coinbase’s new exchange is an effort to stabilize bitcoin — the digital currency’s value has dropped more than 75 percent from its all-time high, when one bitcoin was worth $1,124 just over a year ago.
Funding pours in
Last week, Coinbase announced a $75 million round of funding that included institutional investors like the New York Stock Exchange in addition to venture capitalists. The company has raised about $106 million.
Coinbase isn’t the first to propose a regulated exchange. Last week, Internet entrepreneurs Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss announced plans for Gemini, which they called “a fully regulated, fully compliant ... bitcoin exchange for both individuals and institutions” that would be based in New York.
Unlike in Europe, U.S. regulation of bitcoin exchanges falls to states, said Jesse Powell, a co-founder and CEO of Kraken, a San Francisco virtual-currency exchange whose customer base is largely in Europe, where Powell says it is licensed.
“The regulators in Europe are much more open-minded and forward-thinking, and used to thinking about innovation in financial services,” Powell said. “Within Europe, you have essentially one license for 28 countries, it’s kind of the opposite situation here in the United States.”
Some exchanges still operate outside regulatory boundaries, which Powell called a dangerous game that could have consequences.
For some, bitcoin’s appeal lies in its unregulated roots — meaning no meddling by authorities. But consumer protections won’t scare off many users of the digital currency, Powell said.
“The people who really value their privacy that seriously are in the minority. If you want to capture the larger market, you need to work with the regulators,” Powell said.
Greta Kaul is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org Twitter: @gretakaul


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FedEx Express and Urban-Cab Join Forces for Ecological Deliveries
PARIS, April 21st, 2009 — FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, and Urban-Cab, Paris leader in 100% ecological passenger transportation, have announced their program for efficient and environmentally-friendly parcel deliveries in the heart of the capital. The two vehicles, specifically designed for town-centre operations, have been tested since the beginning of January 2009 and passed with flying colors.
A recent survey indicates 37% of the French population consider the environment to be one of their major concerns (source TNS-Sofres) –all the more reason for FedEx to continue its environmental impact reduction policy.
FedEx currently runs two vehicles from Urban-Cab—an electric utility vehicle (Goupil & Matra) and an electrically-assisted tricycle—in Paris’ sixth district out of Urban Cab’s Opéra logistics base. During the eleven-week trial, Urban-Cab vehicles delivered more than 2,400 documents and small parcels, with an average of about fifteen emission-free stops per hour.
Based on this experience, FedEx aims to raise the number of vehicles to five in the next few months and to expand its delivery coverage to more districts.
“This project is fully in line with FedEx commitment to connecting the world in responsible and resourceful ways. With a global fleet to 170 hybrid electric vehicles and solar-powered buildings in the United States and as of 2010 in Germany, this partnership clearly demonstrates FedEx desire to reduce its environmental impact and represents a new step in France,” explained Dirk van Impe, managing director, Operations for FedEx Express France. “Urban-Cab is a company able to provide the quality of service needed to meet this challenge,” he added.
The main activity of Urban-Cab’s innovative 100% ecological 22 vehicles is passenger transportation throughout the capital. At the request of FedEx, the company agreed to diversify its business, with the success of the concept justifying the ongoing business and fleet deployment plan.
“The ethical environmental management promoted by Urban-Cab with its emphasis on the individual is fully in tune with FedEx values. It is a real pleasure to see that a major international group such as FedEx is making a concrete commitment,” said Francis Allouche, CEO of Urban Cab.
In addition to the obvious fundamental benefits for the environment, the service provided by Urban-Cab also enables FedEx to anticipate any automobile traffic restrictions in the heart of the capital and to help keep down the particularly dense traffic there. Thanks to this mode of clean parcel transportation, FedEx is also improving its day-to-day efficiency by getting even closer to its end-customers, as the Urban-Cab vehicles can access pedestrian-only areas.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET
Electric utility vehicle: “Goupil” or Gem”
Light-weight vehicles, designed for medium size parcels
Capacity: 3 m3
Speed: 25 km/hour
Range: 70 km
- Electrically-assisted tricycles: “Urban-Cargo”
250 Watt motor
Capacity: 1.5 m3
Speed: 20 km/hour
Range: 40 km or 6 hours
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air- and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee*.
*Subject to relevant terms and conditions.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $38 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 290,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.
Urban-Cab is a limited company with a capital of 87,690€, specializing in ecological, town-centre micro-journeys. In 2008 Urban-Cab’s electric tricycles carried more than 100,000 passengers in Paris. This new “bicycle-taxi” transport concept offers users the chance to reconnect with the Capital in a less-aggressive, more enjoyable way, in particular through its wide range of private and corporate tours. Urban-Cab chose in 2009 to diversify into ecological deliveries through a robust partnership with FedEx Express. From its Opéra base, Urban-Cab is today deploying through Paris, opening up new logistics bases at Arc de Triomphe, St-Germain & Rive gauche Bercy. For more information, visit www.urban-cab.com.


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H-E-B clipped a partner badge on its 100,000th employee this week, a milestone that confirms its position as the largest privately-held employer in the state of Texas and one of the largest privately-held retailers in the nation.
“It takes great people to build a great company, and we look forward to providing even more Texans with meaningful career opportunities that bring new experiences, growth and lifelong connections at H-E-B,” stated Craig Boyan, president and COO, in a company announcement released today.
With 332 stores in Texas, H-E-B employs more than 90,000 people in the state, and 10,000 in 56 stores throughout Mexico. More than 24,000 of those jobs have been added since the economic downturn of 2008.
By contrast, publicly traded Walmart employs more than 171,000 in its 584 stores and 19 distribution centers across Texas, according to its website.
Some H-E-B employees join the company as hourly workers and progress up to salaried manager positions, while many turn to H-E-B as a first job or a flexible option to work while pursuing higher education.
With sales of more than $23 billion, and a reputation for innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2015. This year, the company plans to add nine new stores in Texas and another six in Mexico, bringing what they estimate to be hundreds of jobs.
H-E-B is also marking the two-year anniversary of its Partner Stock Plan, an employee ownership plan for employees who are at least 21 years old, have completed at least one year of service and worked at least 1,000 hours in a calendar year. In 2015, the plan’s 55,000 participants received an allocation equal to 3% of eligible pay and $100 for each year of service.
Over time, H?E?B anticipates that employees will own approximately 15% of the company.


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- AWS collaborates with Avalanche to scale blockchain solutions for enterprises and governments.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) will support Avalanche’s infrastructure and decentralized applications (dApps) ecosystem.
- Ava Labs is also a member of the AWS Partner Network (APN) and can deploy offerings on AWS with over 100,000 partners across over 150 countries.
Amazon Web Services has signed a collaboration with Ava Labs on a deal set to increase blockchain technology adoption among enterprises, institutions, and governments.
The news came in on Wednesday, January 11, after the two companies released an official blog post, saying that the partnership would ease the process for developers to execute and manage nodes on the Avalanche blockchain. Other benefits include giving the network more strength and flexibility for developers.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) will support Avalanche’s infrastructure and decentralized applications (dApps) ecosystem. The partnership will also entail Ava Labs joining AWS Activate, a program helping startups and budding entrepreneurs start on the platform.
Ava Labs and AWS Executives Comment
An excerpt from the blog post where Ava Labs founder and CEO Emin Gün Sirer wrote reads:
“It has been a huge boon for both individual and an enterprise developer to spin up nodes and test networks on the fly with AWS in whatever legal jurisdiction makes the most sense for them.”
Ava Labs president John Wu also told a news site, “For us, this means a lot of things. We have over 500 applications on the chain, and we would love to give them a better experience. And now we have a real partnership to direct to the Activate program. On top of that, our users are always looking for a better experience. The one-click node is an incredible way to do it.”
Ava Labs is also building out layer-1 blockchain Avalanche to help scale blockchain adoption across enterprises, institutions, and governments.
Speaking to a news site, VP and global head of startups at AWS Howard Wright said, “Looking forward, web3 and blockchain are inevitable. No one can call the time, date, or quarter that it will happen and will be mainstream, but we have seen growth cycles before. The velocity of this one seems like it’s accelerating, and we’re just excited to be a part of this.”
Ava Labs To Add Subnet Deployment
Ava Labs is also planning to integrate “subnet” deployment to the AWS Marketplace as a managed service. The deployment is a network within a network that would enable individuals and institutions alike to launch custom subnets quickly.
Subnets are a part of Avalanche’s scaling solution capable of diverting traffic away from the main blockchain while at the same time allowing projects to stake its native token, AVAX, and create their layer-1 or layer-2 blockchains.
On matters of Subnet deployment, Wu said, “This is the beginning of something much, much bigger,” adding that the Subnets will allow developers “to spin up their blockchain, an entire blockchain, in Amazon very quickly.
In Q4 of 2022, Ava Labs started developing five to six live Subnets. However, in the testnet phase, over 100 Subnets will be deployed in the next six to 12 months, according to a brief overview by Wu.
“We’re looking forward to sharing this partnership with the hundreds of Subnets that will be launched this year […], so I’m excited about what this can be, not just what it is.”
Wright underscored Wu’s sentiments saying, “When you multiply Activate times Avalanche times Subnet, you have something that’s a seminal moment. I think blockchain [technology] will become commonplace and used in our marketplace by developers.”
Recently, Ava Labs has also become a member of the AWS Partner Network (APN), which means they can deploy offerings on AWS with over 100,000 partners across more than 150 countries. In Wright’s words, “[APN] with Ava Labs and Avalanche is the jet fuel for blockchain and crypto that will democratize access for all corners of the world.”
Amazon Web Services Attract Blockchain Players
While the partnership with Avalanche marks Amazon’s first collaboration with a blockchain player, Ava Labs is not the first to use AWS to power its networks. Among those who are already using the service include Ethereum.
According to the AWS website, approximately 25% of all Ethereum workloads worldwide operate on AWS. Wright said that the technology is “natively agnostic” and supports all blockchain protocols, though this is AWS’s first foundational partnership with a blockchain.
At the time of writing, AVAX, Avalanche’s native token, is up 23.2% to $15.33 in the last 24 hours.


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iOS 17.4 is about to become one of the biggest point updates in the history of the iPhone. A big reason for that is a lot of firsts. With this update, Apple is allowing sideloading, it is also opening up the browser, so Chrome and Firefox can run full versions instead of using WebKit. These are some pretty big changes, unfortunately, only those in Europe get to experience it.
As we just reported, iOS 17.4 will allow for sideloading in the EU. This means that you can download apps from other app stores onto your iPhone. It also allows game streaming apps to be downloaded from the App Store. This is a feature that Android has had since the beginning, and now the iPhone is getting. The only downside here is that it is going to be limited to the European Union – that means the Brits don’t even get this feature due to Brexit.
iOS 17.4 is also adding the ability to use full web browsers as your default web browser. Currently, all browsers available on iOS are actually based on WebKit. So they are essentially the same as Safari. However, with iOS 17.4, and thanks to the Digital Markets Act, users will get the ability to run the full version of Chrome and/or Firefox on their iPhones. That’s going to help web browsers on iPhones get better and faster.
New Emojis coming to iOS 17.4 too
Now, a feature that everyone will get to use worldwide is new emojis. There are six new emojis coming to iOS 17.4, which include Shaking Heads, Lime, Phoenix, Brown Mushroom, and A Broken Chain. This is part of Unicode 15.1, which was approved back in September.
The beta update is rolling out today, and it seems to weigh in at a little over six gigabytes in size. Apple is expecting the update to roll out in March. This is when all of these changes need to be in place to adhere to the Digital Markets Act in the European Union.
The post Apple releases iOS 17.4 Beta with Sideloading, New Emojis and More appeared first on Android Headlines.


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TEHRAN (FNA)- Beirut is currently hosting the Third International Iran Hand-Woven Carpet Exhibition which was inaugurated in a ceremony on Tuesday.
The ceremony was attended by the Lebanese Minister of Economy Mohammad al-Safadi and Iran's Ambassador to Beirut.
Addressing the ceremony, al-Safadi said that arrangement of specialized exhibits in Beirut helps promote knowledge of the Lebanese people about Iranian products.
Referring to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon and Prime Minister Saad Hariri's Iran visit, he hoped that bilateral economic and commercial ties will further improve.
Iran's Ambassador to Beirut, Ghazanfar Roknabadi, said that the two countries have longstanding economic and commercial relations and hoped that the ongoing event will have positive impact to augment the Iranian exports to Lebanon.
He said that he hoped that the first Tehran-Beirut joint economic commission would convene soon.
The Third International Carpet Exhibition is underway in Beirut for the third consecutive years.
Some 20 Iranian companies are participating at the event.
The hand-woven carpet is the main item of Iran's exports to Lebanon.


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IBM has made radical changes to the pricing of its flagship zSeries mainframes.
Memory has now been reduced to $10,000 (£6,400) per gigabyte; pricing for running Linux processors has been fixed at $125,000; and IBM is also offering large discounts for users running new applications on the mainframe.
Phil Payne, principal at Isham Research, said, "This is the biggest change in mainframe pricing that I have seen in the past 20 years." However, he pointed out that the new pricing for the zSeries was still about 30% higher than Hewlett-Packard’s Superdome and Sun’s E16000 Unix server family.
Through the new pricing, users will get more for the same money, and memory price has been reduced from its original list price of $50,000 per gigabyte to $10,000 per gigabyte. The base memory shipped on the zSeries has also doubled, from 8Gbytes to 16Gbytes, giving users twice the memory for the same price. IBM has also fixed the cost of Linux computing on the mainframe. The price is now $125,000 per mainframe processor running Linux.
For Payne, the most significant change to the pricing relates to the cost of software. Users running applications that are new to the mainframe - either bespoke or commercial - only pay 10% of the licensing costs for the IBM software they use. Payne said this would mean a user running a DB/2 and Websphere-based application on z/OS would pay 10% of the current list price for their DB/2, Websphere and z/OS software.
"Anybody who thought that mainframes were too expensive should review their attitude," he said.
Payne said the z900 and z990 mainframes were particularly suited for applications involving Linux consolidation. Although users would not necessarily buy a mainframe for its outright performance, Payne said, "You choose a mainframe for its reliability and virtualisation capabilities."
Along with extremely high levels of reliability, Payne said the virtualisation features on the mainframe simplify administration.
Julie-Ann Williams, chairman of the large systems working group at GuideShare Europe, a non-profit association of companies representing users running IBM architectures, said the new pricing was more cost effective for users. "Software costs have been a big block for mainframe users," she said.
Williams said the mainframe is a superb platform for running multiple copies of Linux. Each partition on a mainframe is capable of running 10,000 instances of Linux. IBM’s roadmap for the z990 will lead to a mainframe capable of running up to 60 partitions - making it possible to run 600,000 Linux instances.
In a recent paper on pricing, Gartner research vice-president Mike Chuba advised users to check that their software invoices issued after 1 October reflected the new pricing.
"Enterprises that could not previously justify migration to the z900 or z990 should ask IBM to run the software cost projections again to see if the economics have changed," he said.


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Sailing shoes, wind jackets, mobile grill or accessories for the boat: Crewline.de is the online store for water sports. With xpack, it is setting sail in the direction of sustainability.
Since October 2021, Crewline customers have the option of having their favorite items delivered in xpacks. Why? “When I go sailing in Flensburg, I see so much trash in the sea”, says Kai, Project Manager Crewline. “We sailors are close to nature. That’s why we as an online store are also keen to avoid as much packaging waste as possible and thus contribute to sustainability.”
In February 2022 Crewline.de went one step further: Orders are now shipped in xpack as standard – free of charge for orders over EUR 50. Those who prefer disposable cardboard still have this option. “Normally, climate-friendly alternatives are more expensive. This is exactly what we want to counteract with our offer and encourage our customers to opt for the sustainable shipping option”, says Kai.
Over 95 percent approve of the new shipping package
Crewline.de was founded by team from “Flensburger Yacht-Service” in May 2020. As an in-house online store, the expertise gathered over decades is now also used online. From clothing, cleaning and care products to technical equipment for crew and boat – Crewline.de offers the all-round carefree package when it comes to water sports.
In the course of the conversion to xpack, the online store asked its customers for feedback. The result: Over 95 percent approve of the new shipping packaging. “For us, this is a clear sign that our customers also want to consume more sustainably”, says Kai.
Did you know? xpack does not only reduce filling material and packaging waste, but also around 80 percent of CO2 emissions. Find out more here.


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The ESG and sustainability landscape for Australian businesses is undergoing a transformation, with new regulatory measures set to reshape the way larger organisations report their environmental and social impacts. Expected to take effect on the 1st of July 2024 is the Australian Treasury’s phased approach for mandatory sustainability reporting for larger enterprises. It aims to align ESG reporting practices with global sustainability standards, emphasising the need for business to comprehensively disclose their carbon footprint, social responsibility initiatives, and strategies for mitigating environmental risks. With the financial year-end approaching, organisations must gear up to embrace these changes and adapt their reporting frameworks accordingly.
Australian businesses are also preparing for another crucial aspect of ESG transparency – workplace gender equality. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency pay gap reporting emphasises the need for organisations to address gender disparities within their workforces. Beyond being a compliance requirement for organisations with over 100 employees, the pay gap reporting may be a catalyst for businesses to evaluate their and improve their internal policies, promoting an environment where diversity and equality are not just ideas but an integral part of sustainable and responsible business practices.
Adding to the complexity, Australian businesses are also bracing for the impact of changes to the European Union’s (EU) International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) disclosures. The ISSB’s influence is expanding beyond EU borders, requiring Australian companies to align their reporting practices with evolving global standards. This move is in line with the growing recognition that sustainability is not merely a regional concern but a shared responsibility that transcends boarders. As we inch closer to the 1st of July, organisations are urged to stay informed about these evolving EU standards and make the necessary adjustments to their reporting mechanisms.
As the clock ticks down to the implementation dates, collaboration and information sharing within a business and within the business community is becoming paramount. Larger organisations in particular need to proactively engage with stakeholders including investors, customers, regulatory bodies, and their suppliers to communicate their ESG and sustainability efforts to ensure a smooth transition. The impact isn’t solely confined to larger organisations, it cascades down the supply chain, effecting businesses at every tier.
These new regulatory measures demand a heightened level of accountability for all entities within a large organisation’s supply network. In 2024, businesses in the supply chain will find themselves under increased scrutiny to align their reporting standards mandated for their larger counterparts. This means that that not only does the primary organisation needs to enhance their sustainability practices, but they also need to foster a collaborative and sustainable ethos throughout their entire supply chain. These changes will require a collective effort, encouraging businesses to work together. These changes underscore the interconnectivity of sustainability, emphasising that the journey towards a greener future must involve collaboration within the business community.
Not sure where to start? NettZero creates tailored ESG reports for organisations looking to capture current performance, set goals, and measure improvements year on year. Visit our website or contact us to learn more.


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DEERFIELD, Ill. — Police are investigating a break-in at a Deerfield gas station that appears to be similar to other smash-and-grabs in the area.
It happened at about 2 a.m. Monday in the 1400 block of Waukegan Road. When police arrived, the door was completely smashed in. Business owners are still conducting an inventory to determine what items might be missing.
Surveillance video from the store shows four people robbing the store wearing white masks and head-to-toe black clothing. The suspects reportedly got away with $450 cash in the register and another $50 in coins.
Deerfield police said they are investigating reports that similar smash-and-grabs were reported in other jurisdictions in the immediate area.


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Business Idea Competition: Award Ceremony
Viva la Vita! wins top accolade
The Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, Alliance and Research (CEDAR) at UCLAN Cyprus has recently hosted the award ceremony of the Business Idea Competition 2014. The initiative led by CEDAR in partnership with a number of stakeholder organisations such as Chambers, JCI, KOGEE, Cyprus University Technology, and University of Cyprus has involved start-up business training on building innovative ideas aiming for the promotion of creative innovations and new venture development.
The event, which has been a celebration of enterprise across the entrepreneurship roadmap, was under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism and under the flagship of the Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Entrepreneur Michalis Kalopedis launched the ceremony with a presentation on the development of Zedem Media – a local firm with international success. Following, aspiring entrepreneurial teams presented their business ideas to entrepreneurs, scholars, business angels and supporters of venturing; including the Jury.
Top award, sponsored by KPMG, was won by London based ‘Viva la Vita’, a business-to-consumer smart application linking deal searching folks and fitness class providers. This innovative booking system allows fitness funs to enjoy membership-free gym classes and fitness centres to utilise extra capacity at certain times. The second award, sponsored by Alpha Bank, was offered to ‘Controlley’, a web platform bringing together socially conscious consumers, NGOs, and companies to promote socially responsible e-commerce and facilitate social change campaigns. The third award, sponsored by UCLan Cyprus MBA, was presented to ‘Peritus Marine Consultants’, a business-to-business idea seeking to match ship owners and managers in Cyprus with Chinese shipyards. Finally, commendations were offered to Manchester based ‘Eventor’ and social enterprise, ‘We hug a Cause’.
Award winning teams are offered limited free hosting in CYBAN Capital Impact (powered by CYTA) and the opportunity to present their re-engineered venture plans during a CYBAN forum.
“New entrepreneurial ventures are drivers for innovation-led development across the social and economic frontiers; incentives are needed to enthuse more investment in start-ups and growth-inspired ventures“, said Professor Panikkos Poutziouris leading the initiative.
CEDAR announced that their next activity will be the Panorama of Innovation with the aim to showcase innovation champion firms operating in services, agro-farming, production and the tourism sector.
For more information and updates visit http://www.uclancyprus.ac.cy/en/research/cedar-entrepreneurship/


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China issues alert for second typhoon in a week
China is bracing for its second typhoon in a week after the government issued a "yellow alert" for Typhoon Malakas on Saturday, just as southeastern provinces continue to clean up after an earlier…
MOB Device for Immediate Alert for Fast Response
Professional mariners know the life-threatening hazards of falling overboard, but may not consider how critical the recovery window is…
New Danelec ECDIS Includes UK AIO Service
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO) is now available on Danelec Marine DM800 G2 Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
FMC: Update Regarding Commission Briefings on the Status of Hanjin Shipping
The status of Hanjin Shipping and the disruptions caused by its bankruptcy to the American shipping community, as well as global supply chains…
Fugro, US Army Corps of Engineers Ink Mapping Deal
Fugro has been awarded a photogrammetric and LIDAR surveying and mapping contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, Missouri.
Helicopter Carrier Delivered to the Egyptian Navy
French industrial group DCNS has delivered LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) Anwar El Sadat, the second of two helicopter carriers…
Assistant Manager, Marine Operations, U.S. East Coast & Caribbean● Signet Maritime Corporation ● Jacksonville, FL, United States
CMA CGM sees Opportunity in Hanjin collapse
CMA CGM will look at opportunities in container shipping triggered by the collapse of South Korea's Hanjin Shipping
Hapag-Lloyd orders 5,750 state-of-the-art Reefers
With delivery beginning in October 2016, the new order strengthens market position in the transport of temperature-sensitive goods / Tests with new
Medal of Honor for Two Destroyers
In a ceremony at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG 125, will be named Jack H.
Vard Design for USCG Patrol Cutter
Vard Holdings Limited (“VARD”), one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels stated that a design developed by its


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Second Annual National Camping Month Encourages People to Get Outside
The North Face Provides Entry Points for Outdoor Participation, Kicks Off Great Outdoors Month
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
SAN LEANDRO, California â€” The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today announced June 2010 as the Second Annual National Camping Month, an initiative to encourage and inspire Americans of all ages to get outdoors.
â€œThe first National Camping Month became a nationwide grassroots initiative, with more than 50,000 individuals showing interest in outdoor education and camping,â€ said Steve Rendle, President of The North Face and VF Corporation’s Outdoor Americas Coalition. â€œThe response from families and individuals reinforced the necessity of creating outdoor programs that are inviting and accessible to people of all abilities and walks of life.”
Building upon the great success of PlanetExplore.com, an online community to find local outdoor activities, and paralleling the Obama Administration’s Great Outdoors Month, The North Face will be holding free educational events, community activities and gear giveaways to inspire and encourage individuals, their families and friends to embrace the outdoors throughout the month of June.
According to the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2009 Special Report on Camping and 2010 Special Report on Youth, camping participation has increased almost 10 percent in the past two years, with friends and parents being the most influential in introducing camping as an outdoor activity. Nearly 60 percent of American youth ages 6 to 24 participate in outdoor recreation, with participation declining each year.
â€œThe North Face sends expeditions to the far reaches of the earth, but the goal of National Camping Month is to encourage families and individuals to get outside wherever they find themselves â€“ whether it be their backyard, a state campground, a multi-day adventure or one night of sleeping under the stars,â€ said Rendle. â€œOur commitment lies in educating and inspiring passion for the outdoors and outdoor activity in all the company does.â€
OIA studies have found outdoor participation declines with age. Over the past three years the participation rate of youth ages 6 to 12 fell almost 20 percent for girls and 10 percent for boys. The OIA states this potential trend could negatively impact the future of conservation efforts that rely on individuals with a strong connection to and an understanding of natural systems and recreational landscapes.
The North Face retail stores will be offering a series of free clinics on topics such as how to select appropriate camping gear, pack a backpack, pitch a tent, make campfire meals and where to camp locally. The stores will also celebrate National Trails Day on the weekend of June 5 in partnership with the American Hiking Society.
In addition, The North Face, alongside The Outdoor Foundation, Backpacker magazine, and other industry leaders, will host the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit and Festival on June 19 and 20. The event will bring together tens of thousands of festival-goers, including 500 delegates, from across the country to celebrate active outdoor living while providing outdoor activities and advocacy raising awareness about the important role that the outdoors and recreational activities play.
To help consumers get the latest and greatest award winning camping gear, The North Face will be holding gear giveaways via Twitter (twitter.com/thenorthface) once a week during the month of June. For more information about National Camping Month including camping gear picks, and to find The North Face retail store closest to you, visit www.thenorthface.com, where online orders more than $125 receive free shipping.
Discover local outdoor and camping events at www.planetexplore.com
For details on The Outdoor Foundation’s Outdoor Nation, please visit www.planetexplore.com/outdoornation
About The North FaceÂ®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.


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Ilia Lekach thought he had a sweet idea for quickly pumping up sales of Paris Hilton brand merchandise across the United States.
The chairman and CEO of Parlux wanted to sell the company's Paris Hilton brand perfume and accessories in Perfumania stores.
But almost as soon as he came up with the idea, he ran into a problem: Stephen Nussdorf, chairman of the board for Sunrise-based E Com Ventures Inc., said the plan stunk.
"Ilia is full of creativity and he has an idea a minute," said Nussdorf. "And he thinks Perfumania should sell Paris Hilton watches, purses and sunglasses because he has no other place for it."
Lekach owns 9 percent of all shares of E Com Ventures, which is Parlux's largest customer. And Parlux separately owns about 12 percent of E Com Ventures' shares. But Lekach differs with Nussdorf on the types of products E Com Ventures should carry.
Perfumania, Nussdorf said, is focused on selling perfume, not accessories.
In a sign Lekach may be struggling to find ways to market and sell the Paris Hilton line, two analysts last month downgraded their rating of Parlux. They cited weak distribution and sales of Paris Hilton items.
Lekach says he is having no such trouble and hopes to one day create a "Paris Hilton store" in select markets.
Therein lies the problem, according to Nussdorf.
"He doesn't like the way we're taking [the business]," he said. "He would like E Com Ventures or Perfumania to be a Paris Hilton store."
In April, Lekach's brother, Rachmil, made an unsuccessful bid to take E Com Ventures private. Nussdorf said Rachmil Lekach's offer came shortly after Ilia asked him to purchase Paris Hilton items and distribute them in Perfumania stores. The two brothers, he says, were working toward the same goal.
Ilia Lekach's history with Perfumania dates to the early 1990s, when it was a small, publicly held perfume retail company. He grew the enterprise to 240 locations before selling the company to E Com Ventures in 2000.
Nussdorf called the current status of their business relationship "strained" partly due to the disagreement over Paris Hilton merchandise.
Lekach made light of the situation, saying Nussdorf was "just jealous because I'm better-looking than he is."
Jaclyn Giovis can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 954-356-4668.


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Alasdair Ralston from Kelso has been awarded a diploma in Ruminant Nutrition by Harper Adams University College, Shropshire.
The 32-year-old McCreath Simpson and Prentice Animal Feeds Manager is now qualified to provide the most appropriate advice on animal nutrition including manipulation of milk quality, dairy cow fertility and health, beef and sheep nutrition and legislative requirements.
Taking two years to complete the course, Alasdair is delighted to have been successful.
He said: “Nutrition is so important to the health of the animal and the overall quality of the product it is therefore essential that we support our farmer customers in choosing the best feed for their livestock.”
Adding his congratulations, Richard Simpson, vice-chairman of parent company, Simpsons Malt, said: “It is crucial that our team have the most up-to-date qualifications so they can provide the best advice to our farmer customers.
“Alasdair has studied hard for over two years to secure these qualifications, which is testament to his commitment to providing the best customer service.”
Berwick-based Simpsons Malt, a family-owned maltster and merchanting business, has Investors in People status.


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If you ask any Grizzlies fan, “what’s your favorite logo the team has ever had?,” more often than not, the answer would be the logo from the team’s tenure in Vancouver. The logo was one of the best the NBA has ever seen, and deserves a chance to be given new life.
The current identity is a bit stale, leaving fans begging the team to use their throwback set nearly every game. The proposed Grizzlies logo update created as a result of this logo case study pays respects to the iconic Vancouver Grizzlies logo, with a Memphis flare and modern aesthetic.
The Grizzlies have the makings of a bright future, led by one of the most exciting up-and-coming stars in the league, Ja Morant - who has already become a fan favorite and jersey best-seller. With all eyes on the young phenom, the lack of an exciting team identity becomes more glaring than usual.
For the Memphis Grizzlies, the time is now to update their identity, to kick off a new era in their franchise history. Check out the images below to see the proposed identity of the Grizzlies in 2020.


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Column: Super-fast 5G wireless is coming this year, but it probably won’t be cheap
You’re probably going to hear a lot this week about 5G — the newfangled wireless technology that’s going to turbocharge everyone’s smartphones.
CES, the Las Vegas extravaganza formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, kicks off Tuesday. Next-generation wireless networks will figure prominently in tech companies’ bright, shiny plans for interconnected digital devices, with super-fast 5G systems the glue that holds it all together.
Last week, AT&T announced that it will roll out 5G networks in a dozen U.S. cities by the end of the year. It didn’t say which ones, but the telecom giant clearly wants to make sure rival Verizon, which says it will have 5G networks in Sacramento and a handful of other cities by year’s end, isn’t hogging the 5G spotlight.
So what do you need to know about 5G?
Here’s what the wireless industry wants to get across:
- It’ll be faster — way faster — than current 4G and 4G LTE systems.
- It’ll be more reliable, with far fewer lags in data streams.
- It’ll be totally awesome because, you know, faster, less laggy.
Here’s what they’d rather you didn’t dwell on:
- You’re almost certainly going to have to a buy a new phone.
- Your monthly bill probably will be higher (maybe a lot higher).
- Even though billions of dollars are being invested in 5G networks, the typical smartphone user probably doesn’t need all that speed, at least right now.
“If I already have perfect 4G coverage, why do I need 5G?” said Alan Gould, chief executive of Westlake Software, a Southland tech firm specializing in wireless systems. “Yeah, I can download things a little faster, but that’s a novelty.”
He said that for people who use their phones primarily for texting, talking and accessing the web, it will be hard to see an appreciable difference between current speeds and 5G connections.
“If you’re an avid gamer, or if you’re downloading high-definition movies into your phone, it’s going to be fantastic,” Gould said. “But that’s hardly everyone.”
True. Then again, it’s hard to say what the mobile online experience will be like once software and app developers start cooking up new uses for all that horsepower.
“We’ll have to see what the next generation of 5G applications brings us,” said Kristian Hoffmann, president of the Central California wireless consulting firm Fire2Wire.
For AT&T, the sky’s the limit. The company said last week that “the promise of mobile 5G is seemingly endless.”
“5G will change the way we live, work and enjoy entertainment,” Melissa Arnoldi, president of AT&T Technology and Operations, said in a statement. “We’re moving quickly to begin deploying mobile 5G this year and start unlocking the future of connectivity for consumers and businesses.”
She said faster speed with little if any interruption “will ultimately deliver and enhance experiences like virtual reality, future driverless cars, immersive 4K video and more.”
That’s undoubtedly true, which means 5G is an exciting prospect for industry. Every time technology improves, people can do more with it, which creates more business opportunities.
But let’s be realistic: The typical smartphone user isn’t going to be indulging in virtual reality, driverless cars or immersive 4K video. He or she will want 5G capabilities with more everyday functionality.
For me, the big question at this point is who’ll pay for all these whiz-bang developments. And the answer is … nobody’s saying. At least not yet.
I asked AT&T how much 5G service will cost subscribers. A spokesman said the company isn’t yet offering such specifics.
I asked Verizon the same. A spokesman declined to comment.
The consulting firm Accenture, in a report commissioned by the wireless industry, estimated last year that telecom companies will invest as much as $275 billion over seven years building out 5G networks.
Other estimates have placed the price tag for 5G infrastructure at about $200 billion annually for at least the first few years of service.
Obviously someone’s going to foot that bill. It doesn’t take a lot of head-scratching to figure that, sooner or later, wireless customers will get stuck with the tab.
Analysts say they expect the companies to tiptoe toward higher rates. First they’ll want people to experience and enjoy faster wireless speeds.
After customers grow accustomed to enhanced service, rate hikes for “premium” 5G access will follow.
The iPhone was introduced in 2007. That year, the average wireless customer paid $608 for a year of service, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By 2014, the annual cost of service had risen 58% to $963 per person.
5G eventually will take hold as the U.S. wireless standard. It seems a safe bet that service costs will reflect the tsunami of data available to smartphone users.
Having a mobile connection that moves like the Mach 5 undoubtedly will be very cool, once we figure out what to do with it.
But it won’t be cheap.
David Lazarus’ column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to firstname.lastname@example.org.